Let communities decide about wine sales

OUR VIEW

From the shopper's point of view, it's a no-brainer to allow grocery stores to begin selling wine in Tennessee. The convenience of picking up a bottle of wine at the same location as the pasta to serve it with would certainly make lives easier.

Currently, Tennessee has a wonderfully anachronistic law that limits wine sales to package stores, and package stores are limited to a single location owned by a resident of the county. Given the bitter battles that alcohol laws have engendered in the South, this law was likely inspired by the adage "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

A bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, would allow local communities to make their own decision on wine sale locations. Though it appears a recognition of the varied nature of our state, it is primarily a ploy to get around the political problems posed by the 27 counties that currently ban liquor sales. The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, through the Red, White and Food campaign, has been pushing hard for a share of wine sales since the 2008 legislative session, and this may be their best chance thus far.

Tennessee is not alone in restricting where wine can be sold. Thirteen other states do not allow sales in grocery stores; though six of the eight contiguous states to Tennessee do allow those sales.

A decision to expand sales will have consequences - although the issue of public safety that has been recently raised is not one of them. There is no foundation to the notion that grocers, who already require proof of age for beer sales, will allow wine to get in underage hands.

Legislators should, however, take pains to ensure the law is a local option for those counties that choose to forgo the tax revenue generated by alcohol sales. Legislators should also appreciate the serendipity of the current law, which has encouraged the creation of locally owned, small businesses that employ thousands of folks doing something they truly enjoy.

There will undoubtedly be job losses from a significant shift of revenues to larger retailers, which should not have to add much staff to stock wine on their shelves. And the communities that vote to approve grocery sales also should give package stores the option to open on Sunday, to allow them to carry related non-alcohol items, and to give them the ability to stock all beers and malt beverages that are currently restricted to grocery and convenience stores.

Americans love the idea of a free market and the benefits that generally accrue - lower prices and more selection; yet, we tend to ignore the fallout that can accompany them: fewer jobs, fewer small businesses, and, more often than we'd like to admit, less selection.

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Let communities decide about wine sales

From the shopper's point of view, it's a no-brainer to allow grocery stores to begin selling wine in Tennessee. The convenience of picking up a bottle of wine at the same location as the pasta to